Being A Child Member Of Vox Machina And | Vox Machina X Child Reader Pt. 2

Being a child member of Vox Machina and… | Vox Machina x child reader Pt. 2

Summary | Vox Machina makes the brilliant decision of toting you along on a dragon hunt.

Genre | platonic, fluff, angst?

Warnings | child death, death, descriptions of blood and violence.

You stood before Sovereign Uriel Tal'Dorei II and the council in the capital palace. Well, more like, hid before them; behind Vax beneath the trail of his cloak was your favorite place to be when nervous.

There was a warmth you hadn’t felt in a long while that enveloped your heart when Scanlan included you in the song of Vox Machina. He’d described you as the adventure hand which you recognized as an ornate term for the squire. Nonetheless, the inclusion felt… nice.

The Sovereign and his advisers had a problem, one in your opinion they seemed all too hopeful to hand off. According to reports, there was something, a beast perhaps terrorizing the outer lands of Emon, wreaking havoc on the surrounding farmlands. They tasked Vox with identifying the threat and taking it down.

If you were being honest, traveling by airship was not your favorite, though this was admittedly the first time you’d traveled in such a manner. For a while, your tallest consistent form of travel had been being seated on Percy’s shoulders. (He tended to get “annoyed” when your small legs and short stamina couldn’t keep pace.)

Allura Vysoren, the famous arcanist, seemed to notice your ill-ease. Although her patience for your traveling companions seemed to be wearing increasingly thin, she approached you with a gentleness you could only compare to Vex’ahlia’s. She delicately explained the enchantment behind the flight, which made you feel somewhat better.

“You’re just as beautiful as he’d imagined you to be.” You whispered, eyes focused on the clouded horizon ahead.

When she looked down at you, she smiled. Her lips stretched with amusement in the way an adult’s do when they’ve heard something entertaining from a child. “Who?”

“My friend, back home.” You replied rather coolly.

“Tell me about them.”

And so you spent the better half of your trip telling Allura about the boy who’d been your best friend in your homeland. No one had thought to ask about you in quite some time, certainly none of the members of Vox who were rather absorbed in their own personal doings. It was lightning to talk about the fonder days, the ones you could remember.

Although many things didn’t add up and much was clouded, your faltering memory was simply credited to your young age.

When the time came to depart on the next leg of your journey, you politely excused yourself. Allura made sure to properly send you, specifically off, before swiftly parting. Scanlan, rightfully so worried about how you’d return to Emon after completing the task. You brightened a bit, offering that you could find horses. You liked horses, despite them being rather skittish around you.

Once you arrived in the town Allura had spoken of, you stayed at Percival’s side. Out of the way, but close by. It was odd to you how empty the village was. Perhaps many had already fled, choosing not to chance their deaths.

Two children spoke to Vax. You bit your tongue, watching, a splash of envy bubbling at the surface of your cool demeanor. They told him of the tree the beastly creature had knocked over while in what they assumed was flight.

Vox Machina made the long trek up the cliff side, all the while you sat on Trinket’s back. You had come to form quite the affection for the bear. What with the two of you being the most frequent benchwarmers.

If you were honest with yourself within the circle of Vox Machina, Trinket knew the most about you. (Like you) he’s an excellent listener and really good at keeping secrets.

What you find at the top of the cliff is nothing more than a baby goat. You suggested Vox keep it and murder it for food (you’d been unable to hunt down a proper meal the previous night.)

You, specifically, heard it before it landed. Vex, however, sensed it. A dragon landed, slaughtering the lamb where it stood. Caught off guard, Vox had moments to act before the giant blue beast took its first attack. Vax, who happened to be the closest to you, swiftly moved to cover behind a tree, dragging you with him.

After sternly telling you to stay out of sight, Vex followed the others into the fray. Doing as you were told was part of the deal. So you listened. Grog, the strongest of the lot, was the first to fall, physically.

You attempted to rush to his aid; your satchel carried multiple potions of healing. Attempted. You were struck by projectile debris from a shattered tree. Upon impact, it destroyed the vials in your bag, and a large chunk clashed with an arm breaking it. You could feel the bone snap out of place.

(Vex) “Y/n!”

Vex, who’d dodged the strike that’d demolished the tree, crawled to your side. You could hear her calling out to you then Keyleth but her voice was static as all your attention had been directed to keeping the tears from flowing. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. This isn’t worth crying over.

Keyleth finally came back to reality. With her Druid abilities, she summoned a mighty storm. Unfortunately, the lighting strike only seemed to make the dragon strong and furious.

It took aim at the top of the cliff triggering a rock fall over the group. Fortunately, Keyleth created a bush that cocooned you all, shielding the group from the rubble.

Once out, Pike went to work healing Grog, then approached you. You don’t know why, perhaps out of instinct, like a feral animal you hissed when she approached. Seeing her surprise, you stopped, blinking back to your right self, instantly apologizing for your behavior. (It’s been awhile since you were injured so badly).

Your arm still stung. Though Pike had managed to correct the bone, much of her energy had been spent on Grog. There was an ever growing purplish black mark on your arm where a bruise was beginning to form.

Vox decided this mission certainly was not your problem. They hadn’t known what they’d been in for. It was too big a task and the pay no longer seemed worth it. Vex pointed out it wasn’t worth risking further injuries. You didn’t notice she was looking at you as she said this.

As Vox began to head back, ignoring Pike’s pleas to continue on, Vex scooped you up. She held you at her waist, allowing you to curl against her chest. The rain felt nice on your swollen arm, but for the moment, all you wanted to do was make yourself small.

The group walked in silence until reaching the town they’d passed through mere hours ago. The poor souls. The village was in ruins burnt asunder, embers flickered, dimly illuminating what remained of the destroyed town.

Vax found the family Vox had allied themselves with earlier. Pike’s blessing hadn’t been enough. You saw the mother's arms protectively wrapped around her daughter and the father bloodied, their decaying bodies soaked through by rain.

Immediately, Vex shielded your eyes from the horrendous sight. You were no stranger to death. Nonetheless, she didn’t want you to see the burned body of a child a few years above you.

Your ears twitched. “Wait.” You whispered, moving her hand away. You slid out of Vex’s arms and approached a large portion of the collapsed roof. It wasn’t long before the noise became discernible to all.

Grog and Vax lifted the debris, then Vax removed the lone survivor from the under rubble. The boy. Pike rushed to aid, but she was still weak from assisting Grog and yourself. The boy’s body fell limp.

Tears pricked at your eyes. His lifeless body triggering something in you. There was a memory attached to your sadness, unfortunately it was clouded. You couldn’t quite recall it.

Following the sadness came an anger, a burning ferocious sort. Someone needed to pay. Vox was decided. They were going to kill a blue dragon. Your own need for revenge was pointed at some else, though once again you couldn’t recall who. Hopefully, a dragon would be enough to placate you.

When Vox returned to the palace, you arrived in time for Scanlan to interrupt Sir Gregory. Apparently, the council had already been notified of the threat. With Vox’s current failure, the sovereign decided to ready the militia.

Once outside, Vex divided Vox into teams; Pike and Vax would head Gilmore’s learning how to defeat a blue dragon; Scanlan and Grog search for Sir Gregory; Percy and Keyleth as well.

You had wanted to go with Vax, nevertheless Vex tugged you away with her and Trinket. Your arm had been properly healed in the return to Emon. You returned to a burdenless manner. Still, Vex kept you close.

You spent the midday scouring Emon, riding on the back of Trinket. Vex went around asking villagers about their thoughts on the council and Sir Gregory’s role in the community. Every now and then, she’d hand you another cookie to keep you from getting bored. Still no taste, but they remained your favorite treat.

After hours of poking around, everyone regrouped in front of a large decadent manner, at the request of Scanlan. Unluckily, the door was locked. Scanlan attempted to bardically unlock it, and Keyleth tried to melt it. Fuckin’ doors. Ultimately, it was, of course, Vax who managed to open it.

The interior of the home was gorgeous, opulent, with accents of red and gold everywhere. Of course, of course, you all had to wind up in the dark cellar. Not that you minded the lack of light. It’s just that cellars are spooky.

Gregory was discovered rifling through the shelves, raiding the general’s tomes. Confronting him proved surprising. As they plead their case, a knife was pushed through their chest, killing them dead. His body collapsed to the floor, revealing general Krieg behind him.

Crippling Vex, he revealed himself to be the betrayer in league with the blue dragon. Vax took aim, only to miss allowing Krieg to flee further into his chamber. Vox followed, keeping you at the back of the pack. The next room appeared to be nothing more than a magical office space.

Percy ordered Vox fan out and search for a fulcrum, save for you and Grog, who he told not to touch anything. He spoke with a gentler tone when looking at you. Grog was entranced by a scanty painting. Keyleth was disgusted by his behavior through the book at him, literally. Interestingly, it bounced off the giant and went through the painting.

On the other side of the painting was a mass of treasure. At first, Vox had naturally fallen into a protective circle formation with you at the center. This being said, the formation was broken as soon as they saw the crush of gold. It was a horde.

Krieg approached from a plague above, revealing himself to not just be in league with the blue dragon. But the blue dragon himself.

You did your best to dodge lightning and debris until Vax picked you up. You clung to him like a baby koala. Regrouping amongst the rubble, Vex realized that working as a proper team wouldn’t work. Everyone needed to play to their strengths and mess shit up.

You worked along Vex shooting arrows from your child sized bow. You didn’t get the chance to use it often, unfortunately multiple shots missed. Still, when you did hit, Vex was quick to congratulate you.

Despite it all, Vox Machina proved victorious, slaying the blue dragon. Dismally you were forced to flee quickly, leaving behind the bounty of treasure, as the cave top collapsed. Scanlan did try.

Vox returned to the council victorious. As reward, they were named protectors of the realm and Hobart members of the council. You weren’t sure if such a gift was extended to you. Furthermore, instead of gold, Uriel awarded them a keep. As long as they protected Emon, they would have a home here.

There was also mention of a banquet, which children were “regrettably” not allowed to attend.

Once Vox had settled in for the evening, you snuck out from the keep. You always had been more of a night owl. You passed Trinket, assuring him you’d be back soon as you always did. He’s such a good secret keeper.

Traveling by shadow, hopping rooftops you traveled until you found a pen quite a way from the keep.

You cornered a lone sheep, your canines extending until they were piercing white fangs as you approached.

(As I mentioned before, you like the essence of cookies fine, such a shame they aren’t enough to satisfy your appetite.)

Ambient sounds for writers

Find the right place to write your novel… 

Nature

Arctic ocean

Blizzard in village

Blizzard in pine forest

Blizzard from cave

Blizzard in road

Beach

Cave

Ocean storm

Ocean rocks with rain

River campfire

Forest in the morning

Forest at night

Forest creek

Rainforest creek

Rain on roof window

Rain on tarp tent

Rain on metal roof

Rain on window

Rain on pool

Rain on car at night

Seaside storm

Swamp at night

Sandstorm

Thunderstorm

Underwater

Wasteland

Winter creek

Winter wind

Winter wind in forest

Howling wind

Places

Barn with rain

Coffee shop

Restaurant with costumers

Restaurant with few costumers

Factory

Highway

Garden

Garden with pond and waterfall

Fireplace in log living room

Office 

Call center

Street market

Study room from victorian house with rain

Trailer with rain

Tent with rain

Jacuzzi with rain

Temple

Temple in afternoon

Server room

Fishing dock

Windmill

War

Fictional places

Chloe’s room (Life is Strange)

Blackwell dorm (Life is Strange)

Two Whales Diner (Life is Strange)

Star Wars apartment (Star Wars)

Star Wars penthouse (Star Wars)

Tatooine (Star Wars)

Coruscant with rain (Star Wars)

Yoda’s hut with rain ( Star Wars)

Luke’s home (Star Wars)

Death Star hangar (Star wars)

Blade Runner city (Blade Runner)

Askaban prison (Harry Potter)

Hogwarts library with rain (Harry Potter)

Ravenclaw tower (Harry Potter)

Hufflepuff common room (Harry Potter)

Slytherin common room (Harry Potter)

Gryffindor common room (Harry Potter)

Hagrid’s hut (Harry Potter)

Hobbit-hole house (The Hobbit)

Diamond City (Fallout 4)

Cloud City beach (Bioshock)

Founding Fathers Garden (Bioshock)

Things

Dishwasher

Washing machine

Fireplace

Transportation

Boat engine room

Cruising boat

Train ride

Train ride in the rain

Train station

Plane trip

Private jet cabin

Airplane cabin

Airport lobby

First class jet

Sailboat

Submarine

Historical

Fireplace in medieval tavern

Medieval town

Medieval docks

Medieval city

Pirate ship in tropical port

Ship on rough sea

Ship cabin

Ship sleeping quarter

Titanic first class dining room

Old west saloon

Sci-fi

Spaceship bedroom

Space station

Cyberpunk tearoom

Cyberpunk street with rain

Futuristic server room

Futuristic apartment with typing

Futuristic rooftop garden 

Steampunk balcony rain

Post-apocalyptic

Harbor with rain

City with rain

City ruins turned swamp

Rusty sewers

Train station

Lighthouse

Horror

Haunted mansion

Haunted road to tavern

Halloween

Stormy night

Asylum

Creepy forest

Cornfield

World

New York

Paris

Paris bistro

Tokyo street

Chinese hotel lobby

Asian street at nightfall

Asian night market

Cantonese restaurant

Coffee shop in Japan

Coffee shop in Paris

Coffee shop in Korea

British library

Trips, rides and walkings

Trondheim - Bodø

Amsterdam - Brussels

Glasgow - Edinburgh

Oxford - Marylebone

Seoul - Busan

Gangneung - Yeongju

Hiroshima

Tokyo metro

Osaka - Kyoto

Osaka - Kobe

London

São Paulo

Seoul

Tokyo

Bangkok

Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)

Alps

New York

Hong Kong

Taipei

But like Agnes is totally sus, am I right? So is her mentioning her NEVER SEEN husband "Ralph". Wouldn't it be funny if the other sus character Mr. Dick himself, Director Hayward was "Ralph".

Being Marisha Ray’s Younger Sibling | Critical Role cast x child reader

Summary | I was going to write bing adopted by Travis and Laura did this instead.

Genre | platonic, fluff

You are the younger sibling of Marisha Ray, (y/n) Jude Huber, and your big sister absolutely adores you.

Despite the huge age gap and distance between your lives, your big sister is your best friend.

Chances are she’s bragging about you to the rest of the Critical Role cast a lot. (They already consider you an honorary member before they’ve even formally met you.)

There’s no doubt about it, your Matt’s favorite little Critter.

If Marisha doesn’t introduce you to DnD, Matt will, and if she does, Matt will “properly” introduce you.

You can bet each time Matt and Marisha visit, you're inviting all your little friends for a kid friendly one shot at least once during their stay. (Matt will swear a party of grade schoolers is easier to manage than the Crit team)

You definitely braid Matt’s hair at least once.

You might not be able to watch the live stream because it’s past your bedtime, but Marisha definitely sends you the highlights over the weekend.

You absolutely adore your big sister, nonetheless you also love hoodies. Marisha might be fuck sleeves, but you are fuck tanks.

Your parents and Marisha situate so that during school breaks such as summer or spring break, etc you're able to stay in California with Matt and your sister.

Which leads to your first in person introduction to the rest of the Critical Role staff.

(You’re five the first time you meet them in person and they’re just starting arc five of campaign one.)

You’re a pretty well-behaved child for your age, because of this, and so that you can spend more time with your sister, you’re allowed to accompany her to work.

The whole Crit role staff would be obsessed with you.

Especially Laura Bailey.

This woman would love you as if you were her own. She’s always the first one to volunteer when Marisha needs someone to look after you.

You were her baby before she had her baby.

If someone finds you with sweets, 99.9% of the time you got them from Laura.

Liam and Sam are like your uncles in a lot of ways.

Both having young children of their own, they have an idea of what sort of things you’re into.

Having said that, you’re not their kid, so they don’t have to follow the same rules. Did someone say bad influences, fun uncles?

With Marisha’s blessing, Sam has had you on for some of his ad reads. According to him, your cuteness is marketable.

There are playdates with Sam and Liam’s children.

You’re heartbroken when you hear that Liam’s character, Vax, has died. There are tears.

Which absolutely breaks the cast because they hate to see you sad.

You’re upset with Matt and snuggly with Liam for a while.

While Liam and Sam are the fun uncles, Ashley is the fun aunt.

You two have matching super cool sunglasses.

She always makes it believable that she didn’t let you win Just Dance.

You and Ash will be belting out songs in the car when you’re in her care, she even lets you say the bad words.

Travis calls you lil” K or Little Kentucky. Which you have led you to calling him big Tex’.

You, much like your sister, have a relationship only comparable to that of a brother and sister with Travis.

If you’re in a particularly sour mood, Travis’s Texan accent is usually enough to turn you into a barrel full of laughs.

You enjoy saying, “yeehaw,” or “ride ‘Em cowboy whenever Travis enters the room. (Sam definitely supports this).

He’s made it his mission to turn you into a Cowboys fan, much to your dad’s chagrin.

Taliesin, this guy might just be your favorite outside of Matt and your sister. They’re just so weird.

You start a childish investigation to find out if they're a real life vampire.

When you get too close, Taliesin makes you his minion, tasking you to spread mischief wherever you deem fit.

For the first week after you’d met them in person, only five, you were convinced their name was Talespin.

Which led to a running joke amongst the others, singing bits of the theme song now and then when you’d get the name wrong.

You beg to dye your hair the same way they do so you can be matching. To pacify you, Marisha agrees to the temporary hair chalk.

When you’re a bit older, you do get to dye the ends electronic blue.

Always messing around behind camera with Brian, or Max, who are usually assigned babysitting duty.

Henry is your bestest California friend in the whole wide world.

There’s always a week at the end of the summer where they tone down the inappropriateness so they aren’t sending you, the angel, back to your parents completely fallen from grace.

As for the Critters.

There was a definite period where there were rumors circulating you were one of the cast members' kids. (Popular theory being you belong to Laura and Travis).

Often showing up in the background, passing through sets, or just a small voice off screen, the critters were curious.

The cast, especially your sister, was careful to keep your face out of social media posts. When you were pictured, your face would be covered by an emoji or shrouded from view.

Then you landed your first voice acting role as a recurring character on Disney channel’s Sofia the First. You were to voice the youngest royal sibling, Ethan/Anna (sshhh, just pretend they’re a character.)

Omg Travis voices King Roland. I didn’t even realize til I wrote this.

Your sister just had to brag, which lead to your formal introduction to the Critter community, “Our favorite little Critter just landed their fist role!”

Suffice to say, the Critter community, for better or worse, lost their minds. Many praised your accomplishment and voiced their opinion on how adorable you were. Others complain and criticize, probably out of jealousy for your close relationship with their favs.

The negative comments were largely drowned out by the positive ones and those that managed to draw attention were hidden from you, as your sister was in charge of your new media presence.

If someone ever does step to you while you’re staying with your sister, they’ve just placed an invisible target on themselves that all the Crit role staff would love to aim for.

The Critters beg for you to make a guest appearance just once in their campaign.

They decide to make that one of their stretch goal rewards for their Vox Machina Kickstarter.

A goal the Critter’s quickly surpassed.

This you make your DnD Critical Role debut during the second campaign.

You sat right next to your sister between her and Travis, which allowed them to help with the math.

You’re obsessed with Laura and Travis’s baby.

Almost seven(?} at the time, you played a child changeling/warlock who was on the run because of their unruly magical abilities.

You were so believably awkward, and apologetic, and humor was soon to follow whenever your character's magic would have a mind of its own.

Your character’s relationship with Liam’s Caleb quickly became favored by the Critters.

Your little annoyingly curious warlock and his rough around the edges wizard.

You made it to the end of the episode but not without having to roll some death saving throws after a misfire on Liam's account.

Luckily, Taliesin and Laura refused to let you die. Marisha definitely gave Liam a few good slaps for nearly killing your character.

Nonetheless, your character survived to part ways, but left the possibility open for returning and maybe even studying under Caleb one day.

A cute moment the chat loses their minds over.

There’s plenty of art of your character apprenticing under Caleb.

The Critters immediately begin to campaign your character’s glorious return.

You are an amazingly kind and talented child.

As you get older, you take more of an interest in voice acting resulting in you moving out to California full time (you, of course, still love and visit your parents).

You’re a DnD master in the making.

You’re an endlessly positive and humorous child to be around and work with.

Marisha lucked out in the sibling department.

All the Crit cast loves you

And to you, they’re your other family.

There’s nothing they won’t do to ensure you have a happy and full childhood.

Because as far as they’re concerned, you’re their kid.

Eysel Elelor Convallaria

Despite her intital captivity, Eysel is a rather compassionate child, who possesses a good sense of humor. She is also gracious, patient, clever, and steadfast. Still, though she is quite helpful and friendly, Eysel isn’t without her imperfections. Rather guarded, she tends to live in her own head, quietly observing the world from the sidelines. Her distress in social situations is attributed to her time with the Iron Shepherds.

The organisation in addition to isolating her for weeks at a time muzzled her to prevent her from using her breath weapon. Thus, trusting others can take a very long time and Eysel is generally unsure what the criteria for trusting someone even is.

Despite social ineptness Eysel, shares a close bond with the Nein, as her reserved manner is clearly absent in their presence. In the company of the Nein, Eysel displays a greater sense of self-confidence. She’s optimistic, curious, mischievous, and inventive. Still, she can become anxious when she picks up on distress cues from the party

Though she can be withdrawn, according to those close to her, typically Eysel is a genuine joy to be around, capable of bringing smile to one’s face in even the darkest of moments.

Art by @oliviajoytaylor

Edit: Old design. This character has since been redesigned.

Can you perhaps do a part 3 to your vox machina x child reader series something about a reveal of the readers race or something or perhaps a continuation of the story if that’s ok with you I just love your vox machina shots

Being a child member of Vox Machina and… | Vox Machina x child reader Pt. 3

Summary | Kid’s got some issues and so does Vox.

A/N | Sorry this took so long been getting into campaign 2 trying to decide if I want to do a child reader for that.

Genre | platonic, angst, fluff, mystery?

Warnings | death, descriptions of blood and violence, panic attack

Initially, you hadn’t been bitter. You didn’t fit the image one was expected to present for such a dignified social event. Not even considering your age, you were small, gangly, freckled and with hair that couldn’t keep its place. You didn’t/wouldn’t belong in a high-profile party.

Still, the joint excitement of Vox Machina had somewhat infected you. Now you found yourself wanting to attend the high-profile event. To combat your pouty face, Keyleth did your hair. Grog offered you ale, which Pike immediately shut down, and Vax tried peek-a-boo with his cloak. Ultimately, it was Percy’s promise to recount everything you’d be missing so long as you were brave and good that placated you.

Vex, you didn’t understand, was a nervous wreck. Leaving you in the keep, with no one to watch after you. Though, you would have Trinket. 

It took multiple assurances from Vax and Percy before they were able to take their leave. You had the keep to yourself.

You crept with Trinket into Grog’s room. Tied only with Vex’s room, you considered his to be one of the most comfortable. With the stash of fur pelts, warm temperature and large bed, it was the perfect place to settle down until Vox returned.

After some time you heard the door, the entry to the keep open, sitting on Trinket’s back you rode to the entry. Your excitement fled upon seeing the seven in shackles, escorted by a small march of guards. In a blink, you paint yourself as a hapless child who’d only just woken. Jarrett, sympathetic to your guise, apologized for the late intrusion, explaining the terms of Vox’s arrest.

House arrest, it could be worse. Allura had essentially grounded the lot of you. Well, not you. According to Jarett, she had clarified that you were allowed to roam freely with proper adult accompaniment and so long as you returned home at a proper time.

The keep was swept clean and all the team’s weapons confiscated, including Scanlan’s instrument. Fortunately, your room was left in peace. Still, you were upset greatly watching the guards tether Trinket to a tree.

Ordered by the Sovereign to remain confined in the keep, there was nothing to do but wait. After assuring you everything would be alright, Vex passed you off to Keyleth silently mouthing an instruction to shield your ears. A thick ornate crown of lush flowers decorated your hair. 

You had caught bits of what had gone down at the feast. Vax feared himself turning into a vampire. Scanlan had a book to translate. Pike was quiet. According to Grog, the food was decent.

You weren’t the type with a keen sense of smell. It was your ears that performed unnaturally well. If a tree fell in the forest and no one was around to hear it, you would. Even with Keyleth’s floral muffler, you were able to discern the biting conversation between Percival and Vex’ahlia. 

Something or other about people killing Percy’s family. To be honest, you were more intrigued by the book left open on the table. 

There were whispers, multiple voices at once, emanating from the dark pages. Their voices sounded distant, their words imperceptible, and yet at the same time crystal clear. Their raspy hissing voices, infecting your mind.

Stress flares up in your head. There is a moment you feel it; the fog beginning to clear. Memories starting to take shape, though still blurred like an old painting. In this moment, as certain figures began to take shape, you could feel a deep sadness traveling through every cell.

“Y/n, Magpie, are you alright?”

Vax’s voice disrupted the whispers. He had, at some point, moved. Now he knelt, crouched beside Keyleth, attention focused on you. His eyes carried a gentle concern.

Keyleth brushes a thumb across your cheeks. It’s then you realize you’re crying. Cold, silvery tears came as a frigid flood, uncontrolled and unwanted. It hadn’t been until the tender hand wiped away some of the tears that you even realized you were crying. You had no reason to, right? So you didn’t understand why you were.

Glancing to the side, over Vax’s shoulders, you notice the other members of Vox standing around the door. Percy’s peering out around the door, canvassing the corridor on the other side.

“Let’s get out of here, shall we?” Vax offered gently, extending his arms for you to jump into.

A decision had been reached between the members of Vox. You’d be breaking out. They were forced to escape under the darkness of shadow from their own keep. 

Vox concluded your silent tears were the consequence of claustrophobia. A fear they understandably assumed you had, as you had been held in captivity for who knows long prior to meeting them.

This, unfortunately, was not the case.

All the while, as they twisted through the secret tunnels below the keep, you held on to Vax, trying to sort through the deluge of memories still just out of focus. The harder you tried, the more your lips trembled, tears pooling from your eyes.

Jarrett stood with a group of his men at the exit of the passage. Once again, the members of Vox found themselves under the escort of the guard. This time, though, you were all split. Vax, Vex and Scanlan had been pushed into the kitchen; Percy and Keyleth into the Percy’s workshop; Grog and Pike into the chapel. 

Jarrett decided you would stay in the common area, as he believed there was little chance any of the members of Vox would try escaping without you. If only you believed that.

Fortunately, this was the room where they stored the colored chalk. 

You needed to calm yourself. You stopped trying to restore the diluted memories. It made your head pound and heart sting. Instead, you settled on the stone floor and began to draw.

You could hear the whispers of a conversation between the two guards. One was complimenting your rudimentary artistic skills while also making little suggestions on how you could improve. The other was telling their partner to shut it. When the two fell silent, you looked over at them. You then extended your hand, a blue piece of chalk held between your fingers. An invitation.

Your ears twitched. You left your spot and moved to the window. As you went, you could hear an argument between the two guards over their cross hatching techniques. They did not choose the right career path.

Outside, you could hear the nervous whines of Trinket. Something was out there. Whispered hisses, not unlike those you heard emanating from the book, circled the keep. And there were screams. The kind of screams that had a raw intensity that warned of threat, and cried out of desperate need.

Moreover, there was this creeping feeling as if a dark presence was looming in your periphery, breathing icy clouds on the back of your neck. It was giving you goosebumps and a feeling of gut wrenching wrongness.

You sped to the door, only to discover the larger wooden doors were locked, and you didn’t have the key. “Slow down there, kiddo. We’re on strict orders not to let you leave this room until further notice.” One of the two guards spoke. 

Your eyes narrowed, spotting the set of brass keys looped on their hip.

Your small hands pound on the door of the workshop, your little voice calling out to Percy and Keyleth, who you knew were inside. Not a moment later, the doors to the chapel busted out. They slammed against the opposite wall, splintering into pieces.

“Tiny, what’s going on!?”

You explained to Grog, as well as a child your age could you, the unsettling presence you felt closing in. Though your explanation was muddied by some fright filled babbling, both Pike and Grog appeared to take your discomfort seriously.

They rallied the others, gathering the team in the large entry of the keep. Freeing the others from their respective holding rooms, you noted, was suspiciously easy. Surely you hadn’t been the only one left under watch.

There was a discourse. Everyone was confused and on high alert. “Where is everybody?” You spoke aloud, your soft voice managing to capture Vox’s attention despite their loud conversation.

Soon after you posed the question, Jarret and three of his soldiers retreated into the building, hurriedly locking the door behind them. Immediately, they placed the blame on Vox, which you guessed was fair. But this time all in the party were, in fact, blameless.

The true assailants hid in the shadows above. Wraiths, beings who take pleasure in watching the life drain from their victims, were perched in the rafters watching the lot of you. Like predators stalking their prey. There was barely time to take arms before they took initiative and lunged for the group.

Nevermind the two guards brutally kill, it was their targeted attack on Scanlan from which Vox realized they were after the book. Eyes rolled back black inky ichor pooling from his mouth, ears, and eyelids. Vex moving quickly, grabbed the fallen spell book and passed it to Keyleth just as a wraith bled into her body.

You would be having nightmares about this.

Gathering the injured members, Vox and the last guard to remain, Jarret retreated into the war room. You were trapped. As Vex pointed out, they needed a way to fight it. You could hear the rasping, cold, hollow screams of the wraiths, even as they grew quieter, on the other side of the door.

Jarret passed Vex and Vax weapons, though even you knew such arms would be useless. Vax had tried in vain to cut through them with his dagger when they had wrenched through Scanlan. Unfortunately, their bodies were amorphous dark fluid shadows harmlessly cut through.

You had faced many threats in your time with Vox Machina. Mere days ago they’d defeated a dragon. Something about these assailants, perhaps their connection with the book, made you want to jump right out of your skin. It was paralysing. There was this foreign yet all too familiar feeling of being insignificant. Shaking, terrified, you straighten your posture awaiting the blow, you for an inexplicable reason expected to come.

You felt a hand grip your shoulder. Your defensive instincts kicked in. You went straight for the wrist, biting into what you registered as a threat. Both fortunately and unfortunately, it was only Vax. Luckily, your bite had only been a warning, no fangs.

He recoiled, his brain stuttering for a moment. He wasn’t sure what threw him more, the two puncture marks on his wrist beginning to ooze crimson or the pure look of unmatched terror in your eyes.

You had been crying earlier over what he still wasn’t sure. He’d wiped your tears and held you close. Vox had heard your pained screams and witnessed fear take over you, sending you running to hide behind one of them for safety. This terror, this raw intense dread that crippled you completely, was new.

There is a scream. Keyleth is dragged up the wall, ichor streaming from her eyes and mouth. Then the candles blow out. In one swift movement, Vax pushes you beneath the table, then ready’s himself for the inevitable battle. He'd bring up your bite later.

The sounds of Vox’s violent acts are flooded out by the noise of your heart beating in your chest. It’s the sound of war drums on the horizon, each beat taking up pace growing louder. Buh-Bum. Buh-Bum. Buh-Bum.

Silence. After a cacophony of vicious screams, the keep goes still. You feel the chill in your blood, the coldness that brought the synapses of your brain to a stand still, begin to subside. Still, your thoughts were so scattered that functioning was challenging.

“(Y/n), darling?” Vex calls out, kneeling down to see you below the table. Noting your state, she slackened her composure, her battle hardened face softened. “(Y/n), dear, I believe you’re having a panic attack. We don’t have to stay here, darling. Would you like to leave?” She offered, carefully extending a hand. You nodded and allowed her to lead you out.

The fresh air was nice and the cool breeze tickled your exposed skin. Vex stayed by your side while the others quickly gathered what was needed. Jarret had decided to release Vox against the orders of the king and allow them to handle whatever manner of being had realised such terrifying assailants.

Leaned in against Vex’s side, you were soothed by her gentle heartbeat. Trinket laid close on your other side enough so that you could stroke his fur. You had barely lifted an arm in battle. Your only true action being disarming the guards that’d watched over you, an act you’d later learned, saved their lives. Still, you were exhausted.

As things were being put into order, Vax approached, scratching at the two marks you’d left in his wrist. “(Y/n), is everything alright? Are you okay?” He asks, crouching to match your height. He was concerned you could read it on his face.

“Those things, those wraiths. You wouldn’t let them take me too, would you?”

“I believe they were only after the—" Vax begins to remind, however, he stops himself when he notices the desperate look on your face. It happens sometimes. Vox forgets you’re just a child. He flashes you one of those charming-gentle-Vax’ildan smiles. “You know we’d rip any monsters apart before we’d let them hurt you.”

You wrap your arms around his neck, standing on your tiptoes to give him a hug. “I apologise for biting you. I won’t do it again.” You whisper, relaxing into his embrace so fully it’s as if you’d melted together.

“Eh, it’s okay, Magpie. I’ve suffered worse.” Vax shrugs, peeling away from the hug. 

"Now you ready to go kill some vampires?”